Dont overthink it......

N

NineballTom

Member
Anytime I start to go into a slump, I'll start overthinking everything and once I do that, the doubt sets in. Once the doubt sets in I can make anything, even the easiest of shots, look impossible.

What I usually do during a slump is take a few days off to clear my mind. Whenever i return, I usually go back to playing respectable pool (the occasional break and run, but a norm of 5 or 6 ball runs).

I've found that for myself, if I try to play my way out of a slump, I'll just make more egregious and aggravating mistakes. But if I take a few days off, it really helps me clear my mind and get back to normal.

What do you guys do to break a bad slump?
 
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Get back to basics and more safety play. In other words realize you're not 10 ft tall and bulletproof and play accordingly.

When I feel I get to a new level I'll usually start playing tougher shots, juicing the CB, you know just throwing it around with no respect. That works for a while, then bad habits creep in. After a few days of actually playing more of what the CB wants to do naturally and not at warp speed the slump is over.

I don't know what it is, but once you start getting over confident by playing well, you start trying to whup the CB's behind and that's where slumps and plateaus start. It's always pretty much get back to basics, be it stance, stroke, english, etc.
 
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NineballTom said:
Anytime I start to go into a slump, I'll start overthinking everything and once I do that, the doubt sets in. Once the doubt sets in I can make anything, even the easiest of shots, look impossible.

What I usually do during a slump is take a few days off to clear my mind. Whenever i return, I usually go back to playing respectable pool (the occasional break and run, but a norm of 5 or 6 ball runs).

I've found that for myself, if I try to play my way out of a slump, I'll just make more egregious and aggravating mistakes. But if I take a few days off, it really helps me clear my mind and get back to normal.

What do you guys do to break a bad slump?
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I understand your quandary BUT it's not in your head, it's a flaw that has crept into your technique.

So you can take all the time off you want... or you can be trying to figure where the gremlin is.

Lou Figueroa
 
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I overthink things on a good day, let alone when I'm in a slump. When I'm struggling, I try to cut things back, simplify. Concentrate on the shot at hand, and less on the leave. Force myself to watch the ball into the pocket. Try to quiet my mind (never an easy thing).
 
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NineballTom said:
Anytime I start to go into a slump, I'll start overthinking everything and once I do that, the doubt sets in. Once the doubt sets in I can make anything, even the easiest of shots, look impossible.

What I usually do during a slump is take a few days off to clear my mind. Whenever i return, I usually go back to playing respectable pool (the occasional break and run, but a norm of 5 or 6 ball runs).

I've found that for myself, if I try to play my way out of a slump, I'll just make more egregious and aggravating mistakes. But if I take a few days off, it really helps me clear my mind and get back to normal.

What do you guys do to break a bad slump?
Click to expand...
You are in a sweet spot in skill level, if you can , try to do drills that can raise your skill level a couple of balls, usually takes a few months but well worth it, the slumps will become much less noticeable because you are not making silly errors. Usually if you gain that next plateau , you can retain it for a long time, even when you aren't playing as much.
If you don't have the time, it is just part of the aggravation that comes with playing at lower levels. jmo
 
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trob said:
I play even more if I’m in a slump. Got to play your way out of it
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This strategy may be effective for some people, and that's great. But I have to take at least 2 days off. If I try to play through the slump, I find that I make more egregious errors, more often.

In recent years I've gotten to where I pretty much only play on the weekends though, so taking a few days off may not affect my game as much as an every day player lol.
 
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Great comments, I’ve shot without my glasses ( or contacts), makes me really have to focus on all fundamentals. It often amazes me that I am able to still string balls together without a clear aiming spot on object ball.
 
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NineballTom said:
This strategy may be effective for some people, and that's great. But I have to take at least 2 days off. If I try to play through the slump, I find that I make more egregious errors, more often.

In recent years I've gotten to where I pretty much only play on the weekends though, so taking a few days off may not affect my game as much as an every day player lol.
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I didn’t say you Were right or wrong for what you do and how it works for you. were all different. I was just saying what I do. honeslty I try to take days off but that damn thing just calls out to me man lol If I couldn’t just walk out to my garage to play it would easeir lol
 
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jasonlaus said:
Record yourself, you'll probably see you're doing something wrong
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Agree with this 100%. However it is good to record yourself frequently( just takes a $20 tripod and an I phone). So that you can see and save video where you play very good and then when are not playing well you will have a reference video to help you spot and understand what changed in your game to cause the slump.
Most probably something from your initial set up mechanics to your stroke delivery rhythm and tempo.
 
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Maybe I am wrong but if you in a slump, on a loosing streak, most people do spend the time analyzing what they are doing wrong. Analyzing honestly & taking hard look at one faults, or failures. Say self what the Fook did I do wrong to miss that shot, and being honest with ones self. Identifying your failures honestly.

Also most people hate practicing what they suck at. If two rail kick is your weak skill, and you realize that. Why would you not practice what you suck at to improve? Can improve two rail kicks, practicing Draw?

When in doubt go bak to the basic of pool, the things you did to build skill at Pool, rebuild your good foundations.

Maybe the BEST POOL INSTRUCTOR live not too far from me, Jerry Briesth. Occasional someone takes a lesson from Jerry where I play. Jerry cost $300.00 for Four Hours of instruction. He don’t do 1/2 hour, and hour, it four hours our nothing. The only thing I have ever seen Jerry teach if FOUNDATION BUILDING. Stans, Setup, Stroke, with a lot of work on those foundations. Guess their iso something to going back to basic, or starting off with basics.

Pool is also a very mental game to play it will it require concentration, a mind set to win, and concentration only on your game. Maybe I am talking about killer in stinks.

Not being distracted by the music that is playing in background, not the conversation going on next to you, not worry about money at risk if you’re really gambling, not stealing.

Would you want a Neurosurgeon working on your back trying to save you from become a paraplegic being distracted in surgery, or worry about successor or failure if they can fix you back. Personally not, I would want the Best Surgeon, who was concerned about doing the best job, like they were working on a good friend for family member. Not the surgeon who think he is best with biggest ego, no

I want the real deal best, who give every patient his very best work, and is a machine, with a little human being personality so you are not dealing with a 100% machine who has zero connection to you, and don't really care. All they carte about is the money, not the patient, or getting best outcome.



JMHO
 
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Just RELAX!
Everytime I try too hard I wind up screwing it all up. Relax and say "F" it! Then the puzzle pieces all seem to fall together.
Take the pressure off of yah-self.....
One of my favorite movie scenes describes this well!
Blindfolded
 
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